When is the right time to discuss money with your partner?

Why is it that people are all too willing to discuss anything, even sex,
before they talk about their finances? How come the discussion of money,
especially with our partners, is so difficult to have?

Be as it may, relationship expert Paula Quinsee says the discussion must
be had, especially if you are thinking of moving in together or getting
married. She adds that even if the relationship is not that serious, money is
still being spent on dates and you don’t want problems to arise from disagreeing
on how much you should be spending on the relationship per month.

“The discussion is very important because the leading cause for couple
arguments revolve around the unmet expectations involving money,” says Quinsee.
That is the reason it's to your greatest advantage to begin having financial
conversations with your partner as soon as possible.

One approach to raising the finances conversation is to discuss what you
each value and what objectives you have. Objectives generally have a type of financial
esteem joined to them, so it very well may be a simple method to segue into the
more awkward point of money.

Quinsee suggests that whilst having the conversation, also keep in mind
that transparency is key. “You must disclose your financial responsibilities,
roles and what you can afford from a lifestyle perspective,” she adds. This
means discussing your earnings relative to each other, because if one is
earning considerable more than the other and expecting a 50-50 financial
contribution, it could be strenuous on the one earning less as it would be
impossible to sustain.

According to Quinsee, the lack of transparency and inability to keep to
the expectations may result in resentment, mistrust, conflict and friction in
the relationship.

“At the same time people must take care of their own financial needs
first, whether single or in a relationship. Even when in a relationship
situations can arise, such as retrenchment, illness and accidents. Therefore
you should know that you’re capable of taking care of yourself and the
household should something happen to one of you,” she says.

Remember that you’re there to support one another through thick and thin,
and if you don’t have these conversations in case one of the situations
mentioned before happens, you won’t know where you stand with each other or how
to be there for each other so that you can trust and rely on each other, Quinsee
adds.